California Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), a gay lawmaker who has long been a target of the right for his progressive record on LGBTQ rights and criminal justice reform, is reportedly planning to run for the House seat of Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in 2026. San Francisco standard.
Pelosi, 85, a two-time speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has largely stayed out of the political spotlight, giving way to challengers in heavily Democratic districts. She has not yet said whether she plans to seek another term.
Mr. Weiner had previously said he would not run until Ms. Pelosi resigns, but he has been buoyed by the rise of Saikat Chakrabarti, a tech billionaire and former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a progressive candidate. A formal campaign announcement is reportedly expected next week.
Over the past few months, Chakrabarti has attracted huge crowds. campaign He held events across San Francisco, using it to criticize the current direction of the Democratic Party and appeal to disillusioned progressive and anti-establishment voters. He has said he plans to run regardless of whether Pelosi retires or seeks another term.
A poll released by Chakrabarti’s campaign found that 65% of registered voters in the district, including 51% of self-proclaimed Pelosi supporters, think the district, which covers much of San Francisco, needs new congressional leadership. After respondents considered both candidates’ backgrounds, Mr. Chakrabarti outperformed Ms. Pelosi in a head-to-head contest.
People close to Ms. Weiner said the poll confirmed the idea that Ms. Pelosi could be vulnerable to major challenges. Announcing now will give Weiner time to build a credible campaign, secure support and raise money for what is expected to be a costly race in one of the nation’s most expensive media markets. His review committee has already raised about $1 million.
“People are hungry for something different,” one source said. standard Wiener’s race participation predictions. “There’s a sense that it’s time for other candidates to run.”
A separate EMC Research poll of 500 registered voters in San Francisco found that 51% want to elect someone other than Pelosi to Congress. Among potential challengers, Wiener, whose state Senate district overlaps with Pelosi’s, had the highest approval rating at 61%. Fellow progressive director Connie Chung had 28%, while Chakrabarti and Pelosi’s daughter Christine each had 21%.
Asked about his plans, Wiener said: San Francisco standard “I’ve been preparing and raising funds for when the race starts,” he wrote in a text message.
Meanwhile, Pelosi has remained silent about her political future. His spokesman, Ian Crager, said he is focused on rallying support for Proposition 50, a ballot measure backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that would help Democrats flip five seats in their favor. This is in opposition to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting efforts that benefited Republicans.
“Speaker Pelosi remains fully focused on the mission of winning California’s ‘Yes on 50’ special election to help Democrats retake the House of Representatives,” Craiger said in a statement. “She invites all Californians to join her in that mission.”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
